Morris tribune., 1887-05-04
ELECTRO PLATED CORPSES
A SCHEME THAT OuTRlVALS THE
MUMMlES OF EGYPT.

New Application of an Old Principle.
Making a Metallic shroud-Showing OF
Ones Silver Plated Ancestry-Some
Great Possibilities.
An ingenious Philadelphia has devised
a process for the preservation of bodies,
which will cause blush of envy and
modification to mantle the wrinkled
cheek of the most ancient mummy the
tombs of Egypt can produce. By this
new method future generations may have
the pleasure of gazing upon their ancestry
in a close semblance of their natural form,
with shape and outline carefully pre-
served and the whole body beautiiied be-
You'd the utmost possibilities of nature.
No more will departed friends and rela-
tives be treasured up as bundles of rags
and bones or as pinches of ashes in ciner-
ary urns, but in the full form and size of
their ante mortem existence. The means
by which this wonderful transformation is
to be accomplished is but new appIica-
ton of an old principle long in use in me-
chanic arts. 1t is simply the old and IA
miliar process of electro plating, which
furnishes modern households with so
many articles of ornament and utility.
The method of its application in the
preservation of bodies is as follows: The
corpse is first thoroughly washed with
alcohol or with solution of caustic pot
ash, followed by very dilute nitric acid, in
order to cleanse the body and remove all
traces of oily or greasy eXudations. Then
the entire surface of the body, from which
all hair must be entirely removed, is
busted over with finely powdered plum
bago, care being taken to cover every por-
ton of the surface. AS the purpose of The
plumbago is to furnish o conducting sur
face any uncovered spot upon the corpse
would cause q break i'll the plating.
A METALLIC SHROUD.
The Africanized remnant of humanity
is then immersed in bath of metallic
solution containing q lump of the metal
with which it is desired to coat the body.
To the piece Of metal is attached the posi-
tive pole of a strong galvanic battery OF
a powerful dynamo electric machine, and
the negative pole is connected with the
body The action of the powerful current
of electricity Immediately commences,
covering the body with a fine film OF
metal, which is deposited evenly over the
entire surface. AS long as the electrical
current is uninterrupted the deposit of the
metal continues, and the coating may
thus be made of any desired thickness.
In length of time proportional to the
strength of the electrical current the en-
tire body may be enveloped in metallic
shroud an eighth or quarter of an inch
in thickness, or even more if desired. BY
this impervious coat the remains are thus
perfectly protected from decay, and may
be preserved for an indefinite number OF
years.
Outside of it's advantages es a method
of preserving remains this process has
great commercial and artistic value. The
morgues of the various large cities would
furnish an ample supply of material
which might easily be worked up into
nickel plated dummies for use by clothiers
or dry goods merchants in displaying gar
ments and dress goods. With limb and
body arranged in graceful postures an un
claimed body could readily be transformed
into valuable work of art. Dying glad
iators, wrestlers and Greek and Roman
figures could be reproduced in unlimited
numbers Thus the unknown suicide and
bodies fished from ponds and rivers could
find final resting places III al muse 1l1Fss OF
fashionable parlors instead of being cut
and sawed asunder by the ambitious med
ical student.
SILVER PLATED ANCESTRY.
One can readily imagine the feelings OF
pride with which the man of hundred
years hence would lead his visitor into his
mortuary chamber and point out each
member of his silver plated ancestry,
beautifully polished and naturally grouped
about the room. There would be in those
days no need for an expensive burial lot
in fashionable cemetery, and there would
be no use for the costly and Ostentatious
funeral of to-day. In those days the I'M
dertaker would simply be an expert
electroplater, and instead of room full OF
sample collins and caSkets he would sim
ply exhibit a few pieces of polished metal
and inquire of his customer: Chow would
you like to have the deceased finished, in
copper, nickel, silver or gold?'
To the man Of the future who has
taste for art and antiques this process
offers great possibilities. Ancestors plated
with silver or nickel would be far more
artistic ornaments than the rusty and an
Gent suits of armor which are so highly
priced in these days. Armed with lance
and shield, a grandfather thus prepared
would furnish valuable addition to any
collection of antiques and brio q brac.
Beautiful effects could be produced by
plating bodies with copper, which, by
atmospheric action, soon assumes the ap
pearance of beautiful bronze. By
use of plush or velvet these<hronze
easily be mounted after TIL
day. A copper colofea
ished and polished, mtg
an excellent specimen -.
The use of gold would PROF., :, 1,..-e of
preserved pedigree more valuable, more
novel and far more beautiful than the
famous gold faced mummies which con-
tain all that was mortal of the Pharaohs
Of Egypt.-Philadelph Record
Without Taste for Diplomacy.
The new Turkish minister to the United
States, MarOuueni Bey, is spoken of in one